Poinsettia plant named ‘Q103’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Q103’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large and full inflorescences with numerous light orange to yellow orange-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Q103’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Q103’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create uniform and freely-branching Poinsettiaplants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2015 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection ofEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 11_13, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2012-0099, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark sinceSeptember, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Q103’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Q103’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Large and full inflorescences with numerous light orange to        yellow orange-colored flower bracts.    -   6. Excellent post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPoinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selectionin flower bract color as flower bracts of plants of the female parentselection are yellow in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPoinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection inflower bract color as flower bracts of plants of the male parentselection are lighter yellow orange in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘NPCW10164’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,597.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differprimarily from plants of ‘NPCW10164’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more freely branching than        plants of ‘NPCW10164’.    -   2. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are slightly        shorter than flower bracts of plants of ‘NPCW10164’.    -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are light        orange to yellow orange in color whereas flower bracts of plants        of ‘NPCW10164’ are red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Q103’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of second sheet is a close-up view of atypical dissected inflorescence of ‘Q103’.

The photograph at the bottom of second sheet is a close-up view of thelower and upper surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Q103’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter in 13-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks afterplanting and plants were 20 weeks old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Q103’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 11_13, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2012-0099, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close            to 161D, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounded plant habit; inverted triangle with rounded crown;            large full inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to tope of foliar plane.—About 15            cm to 30 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to tope of floral plane.—About 15            cm to 35 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm to 50 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit, about three to six lateral branches develop            after pinching. Length: About 15 cm to 30 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 5 cm.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Angle: Mostly upright. Color, developing: Close            to N144D. Color, developed: Close to 138A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement and appearance: Alternate,            simple. Length: About 12 cm to 16 cm. Width: About 9 cm to            12 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Slightly            cordate. Margin: Entire, shallowly lobed. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; leathery; matte. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 136A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to N189A; venation, close to 189A.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 189A;            venation, close to 191A. Petioles: Length: About 6 cm to            8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Large full inflorescences are            compound corymbs of cyathia with light orange to yellow            orange-colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia; one            inflorescence per lateral branch with inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally during the            autumn and winter under long nyctoperiod conditions;            inflorescence initiation and development can be induced            under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions; early            flowering habit, response time is about eight to nine weeks            after start of long nyctoperiod conditions.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good            substance and bract color for about six to eight weeks under            interior conditions; flower bracts persistent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 15 to 25.            Length: About 9 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 7 cm to 9 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Slightly cordate.            Margin: Entire, occasionally shallowly lobed. Venation:            Pinnate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Rugose, glabrous; velvety; matte. Aspect: Mostly horizontal            to slightly downward. Color: Developing (transitional)            bracts, upper surface: Variable sectors, close to 22B and            137A. Developing (transitional) bracts, lower surface:            Variable sectors, close to 22B and 146A. Fully expanded            bracts, upper surface: Close to 26B; small random spots,            close to N30A; color becoming closer to 22A with spots,            close to 31C, with development. Fully expanded bracts, lower            surface: Close to 22B; color becoming closer to 22C with            spots, close to 31C, with development. Flower bract            petioles: Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N144A.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 8 to 15. Length: About 5            mm to 10 mm. Width: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Rounded.            Color, developing, inner surface: Close to 145C. Color,            developing, outer surface: Close to 146A. Color, fully            developed, inner surface: Close to 157A. Color, fully            developed, outer surface: Close to 138A. Nectaries: Quantity            per cyathium: Typically one. Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Texture,            inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            developing, inner surface: Close to 142D. Color, developing,            outer surface: Close to 14B. Color, fully developed, inner            surface: Close to 14B. Color, fully developed, outer            surface: Close to 16A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Angle: Mostly upright. Color: Close            to 138A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:            About 50. Filament length: About 1 mm to 5 mm. Filament            color: Close to 157A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 11B. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11A. Pistils: Quantity per            cyathium: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2 mm to 4 mm.            Style length: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Style color: Close to            157A. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape:            Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 185A. Ovary color: Close            to 138A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 12° C. to about    35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Q103’ asillustrated and described.